U.S. patent application number 15/543841 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-11 for floor vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eurofilters Holding N.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is EUROFILTERS HOLDING N.V.. Invention is credited to Ralf SAUER, Jan SCHULTINK.
Application Number | 20180008107 15/543841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52347254 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180008107 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAUER; Ralf ; et
al. |
January 11, 2018 |
Floor Vacuum Cleaner
Abstract
The invention relates to a floor vacuum cleaner comprising a
dust collector arrangement mounted on rollers and/or runners, a
suction hose, a suction tube, and a floor nozzle, wherein the floor
nozzle is fluidically connected to the dust collector arrangement
via the suction tube and the suction hose, wherein the dust
collector arrangement comprises a dust separator, wherein the dust
collector arrangement comprises a motorized fan unit for suctioning
an air stream through the floor nozzle, wherein the motorized fan
unit is arranged so that an air stream suctioned in through the
floor nozzle, the suction tube, and the suction hose flows through
the motorized fan unit and into the dust separator, wherein the
dust collector arrangement has a housing and the motorized fan unit
is mounted on or in the housing, wherein the dust separator is
mounted in the housing.
Inventors: |
SAUER; Ralf; (Overpelt,
BE) ; SCHULTINK; Jan; (Overpelt, BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EUROFILTERS HOLDING N.V. |
Overpelt |
|
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Eurofilters Holding N.V.
Overpelt
BE
|
Family ID: |
52347254 |
Appl. No.: |
15/543841 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 11, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/079463 |
371 Date: |
July 14, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L
9/1683 20130101; A47L 5/365 20130101; A47L 9/14 20130101; A47L 5/22
20130101; A47L 9/102 20130101; A47L 9/248 20130101; A47L 9/009
20130101; A47L 5/362 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/36 20060101
A47L005/36; A47L 9/16 20060101 A47L009/16; A47L 9/10 20060101
A47L009/10; A47L 9/02 20060101 A47L009/02; A47L 9/00 20060101
A47L009/00; A47L 9/24 20060101 A47L009/24; A47L 9/14 20060101
A47L009/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2015 |
EP |
15151740.6 |
Claims
1. A floor vacuum cleaner comprising a dust collector arrangement
mounted on rollers or runners, a suction hose, a suction tube and a
floor nozzle, wherein said floor nozzle is fluidically connected to
said dust collector arrangement via said suction tube and said
suction hose, wherein said dust collector arrangement comprises a
dust separator, wherein said dust collector arrangement comprises a
motorized fan unit for suctioning an air stream through said floor
nozzle, wherein said motorized fan unit is arranged so that an air
stream suctioned in through said floor nozzle, said suction tube
and said suction hose flows through said motorized fan unit and
into said dust separator, wherein said dust collector arrangement
has a housing and said motorized fan unit is mounted on or in said
housing, and wherein said dust separator is mounted in said
housing.
2. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
motorized fan unit is arranged on top of or above said dust
separator or at the same height as said dust separator.
3. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
motorized fan unit comprises a radial fan.
4. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the
rotational axis of said radial fan is, during operation of said
floor vacuum cleaner, oriented vertical or at an angle of at most
60.degree., relative to the vertical direction.
5. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
motorized fan unit is arranged on said housing.
6. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
motorized fan unit is configured such that, with an aperture of 8,
the motorized fan unit has a volumetric flow of more than 30 l/s at
an electrical input power of less than 900 W according to DIN EN
60312-1, with an aperture of 8, the motorized fan unit has a
volumetric flow of more than 25 l/s at an electrical input power of
less than 600 W according to DIN EN 60312-1, or with an aperture of
8, the motorized fan unit has a volumetric flow of more than 15 l/s
at an electrical input power of less than 300 W according to DIN EN
60312-1.
7. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
floor nozzle comprises a base plate with a base surface which
during operation of said floor vacuum cleaner faces a surface to be
suctioned, where said base plate has at least one air flow channel
parallel to said base surface and with an opening provided
laterally in said base plate.
8. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
suction tube has a diameter in a range from 25 mm to 50 mm or a
length in a range from 600 mm to 1200 mm.
9. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
suction hose has a diameter in a range from 25 mm to 50 mm and/or a
length in a range from 1000 mm to 2500 mm.
10. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
dust separator comprises a blow-out filter.
11. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
floor vacuum cleaner is a bag vacuum cleaner.
12. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein said
dust separator comprises a vacuum cleaner filter bag.
13. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the bag
wall of said vacuum cleaner filter bag comprises one or more layers
of a nonwoven or one or more layers of nonwoven fabric.
14. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
floor vacuum cleaner is a bagless vacuum cleaner.
15. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein said
dust collector comprises an impact separator or a centrifugal
separator.
16. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further
comprising a second motorized fan unit.
17. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein said
angle is at most 45.degree..
18. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein said
blow-out filter comprises a filter area of at least 800 cm2.
19. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein said
bag vacuum cleaner comprises a filter area of at least 800 cm2.
20. The floor vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein said
vacuum cleaner filter bag is a flat bag or a disposable bag.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a floor vacuum cleaner.
[0002] Vacuum cleaners are available in a variety of different
configurations or designs. The best-known designs include the
upright vacuum cleaner, the hand-held vacuum cleaner, and the floor
vacuum cleaner.
[0003] An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a movable base unit
above which an upper body with a vacuum cleaner container is
arranged, where the two parts are mounted so as to be pivotable
relative to each other. An electrically driven brush is typically
provided in the base unit. An upright vacuum cleaner is shown, for
example, in EP 2 030 551. Such vacuum cleaners are sometimes
referred to as brush/beater vacuum cleaners.
[0004] The hand-held vacuum cleaner comprises a housing with a
motor-driven fan and a dust collection chamber. A suction tube on
one side is led out from the housing, at the end of which a floor
nozzle is disposed. Disposed on the other side of the housing is a
handle, optionally on a rod.
[0005] Floor vacuum cleaners comprise a housing which is mounted on
rollers and/or runners. A dust collection container is arranged in
the housing and contains a filter bag. A floor nozzle is via a
suction tube and a suction hose connected to the dust collection
chamber. In conventional floor vacuum cleaners, a motorized fan
unit is further arranged in the housing and creates a negative
pressure in the dust collection container. In the air flow
direction, the motorized fan unit is therefore arranged downstream
of the floor nozzle, the suction tube, the suction hose, and the
dust collection container or the filter bag, respectively. Since
cleaned air passes though such motorized fan units, they are
sometimes referred to as clean air motors.
[0006] Particularly in former times, there were also vacuum
cleaners in which the suctioned dirty air was passed directly
through the motor fan and into a dust bag directly attached
downstream. Examples thereof are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,101,390,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,036,056 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,337. These forms of
vacuum cleaners are nowadays no longer very common.
[0007] Such dirty air or fouled air motor fans are also referred to
as a "dirty air motor" or "direct air motor". The use of such dirty
air motors is also described in documents GB 554 177, U.S. Pat. No.
4,644,606, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,112, US 2002/0159897, U.S. Pat. No.
5,573,369, US 2003/0202890 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,054.
[0008] Against this background, the object underlying the invention
is to provide an improved floor vacuum cleaner.
[0009] This object is satisfied with the subject matter of claim 1.
A floor vacuum cleaner is according to the invention provided
comprising a dust collector arrangement mounted on rollers and/or
runners, a suction hose, a suction tube, and a floor nozzle,
[0010] wherein the floor nozzle is fluidically connected to the
dust collector arrangement via the suction tube and the suction
hose,
[0011] wherein the dust collector arrangement comprises a dust
separator,
[0012] wherein the dust collector arrangement comprises a motorized
fan unit for suctioning an air stream through the floor nozzle,
wherein the motorized fan unit is arranged so that an air stream
suctioned in through the floor nozzle, the suction tube and the
suction hose flows through the motorized fan unit into the dust
separator,
[0013] wherein the dust collector arrangement has a housing and the
motorized fan unit is mounted on or in the housing,
[0014] wherein the dust separator is mounted in the housing.
[0015] A dirty air motor or direct air motor is thereby
advantageously used in a floor vacuum cleaner. Even with low motor
power, a high volumetric flow can be obtained with the floor vacuum
cleaner according to the invention. A dirty air motor, for example,
has a maximum rotational speed of less than 30,000 rpm and an
electrical input power of less than 900 W.
[0016] In the direction of the air stream, the floor nozzle,
sometimes referred to as a "suction nozzle", is arranged upstream
of the suction tube, the suction tube is arranged upstream of the
suction hose, and the suction hose is arranged upstream of the dust
collector arrangement. The air suctioned by way of the motorized
fan unit flows in the following sequence through the floor nozzle,
through the suction tube and through the suction hose into the dust
collector arrangement. The air is there passed through the
motorized fan unit into the dust separator. In the dust collector
arrangement, the motorized fan unit is therefore arranged
fluidically upstream of the dust separator. Due to the fluidic
connection, an continuous air stream is ensured through the floor
nozzle, the suction tube, the suction hose into the dust collector
arrangement and in particular through the motorized fan unit into
the dust separator.
[0017] It has surprisingly been found that dirty air motors can
also be advantageously used in floor vacuum cleaners, in particular
in order to convey suctioned dirty air into a downstream dust
separator.
[0018] In contrast to conventional floor vacuum cleaners where
negative pressure is present in the dust collector arrangement or
the dust collection chamber during operation, overpressure is in
the floor vacuum cleaner according to the invention present in the
dust collector arrangement or its housing, respectively. In this
way, the wall thicknesses of the dust collector arrangement can be
reduced or reinforcing elements (such as, for example, reinforcing
ribs) can be used to a lesser extent or even completely
avoided.
[0019] The housing can comprise a housing wall which is in
particular made of plastic material.
[0020] The arrangement of the dust separator within the housing of
the dust collector arrangement and the arrangement of the motorized
fan unit on or in the housing allow for a compact design of the
dust collector arrangement and thereby of the floor vacuum cleaner
as a whole.
[0021] The motorized fan unit can (in particular during operation
of the floor vacuum cleaner) be arranged on top of or above the
dust separator or at the same height as the dust separator. The
motorized fan unit is therefore, in particular, not arranged below
the dust separator. Conveying the dirty air through the motorized
fan unit thereby does not have to occur against gravity, or only to
a small extent.
[0022] The motorized fan unit can have an in particular single
stage radial fan. In a radial fan, the air is suctioned parallel or
axially relative to the drive axis of the fan wheel and deflected
by the rotation of the fan wheel, in particular by approximately
90.degree., and blown out radially.
[0023] The rotational axis of the radial fan can during operation
of the floor vacuum cleaner be oriented vertical or at an angle of
at most 60.degree., in particular of at most 45.degree., relative
to the vertical direction.
[0024] The motorized fan unit can be arranged on the housing. In
particular, the dust separator can during operation of the floor
vacuum cleaner be arranged below the motorized fan unit or at the
same height.
[0025] The motorized fan unit can be configured in such a way that,
with an aperture of 8, it has a volumetric flow of more than 30
l/s, in particular of more than 40 l/s, and in particular of more
than 50 l/s, at an electrical input power of less than 900 W
according to DIN EN 60312-1. The motorized fan unit can
alternatively or additionally be configured in such a way that,
with an aperture of 8, it has a volumetric flow of more than 25
l/s, in particular of more than 30 l/s, and in particular of more
than 40 l/s, at an electrical input power of less than 600 W
according to DIN EN 60312-1. The motorized fan unit can
alternatively or additionally be configured in such a way that,
with an aperture of 8, it has a volumetric flow of more than 15
l/s, in particular of more than 25 l/s, and in particular of more
than 30 l/s, at an electrical input power of less than 300 W
according to DIN EN 60312-1.
[0026] In this way, a particularly efficient floor vacuum cleaner
is obtained.
[0027] The air data of a vacuum cleaner or a motorized fan unit is
determined according to DIN EN 60312-1: 2014-01. In particular
section 5.8 is made reference to. Measuring device B according to
section 7.3.7.3 is there used. If a motorized fan unit without a
vacuum cleaner housing is measured, then measuring device B is
likewise used. For possibly necessary adapters for connecting to
the measuring chamber, the descriptions in section 7.3.7.1
apply.
[0028] The terms "volumetric flow" and "suction air flow" are also
used for the term "air stream" according to DIN EN 60312-1.
[0029] The floor nozzle can have a base plate with a base surface
which during operation of the floor vacuum cleaner faces the
surface to be suctioned, where the base plate has at least one air
flow channel parallel to the base surface with an opening provided
laterally in the base plate. In particular, the base plate with its
base surface can during operation of the floor vacuum cleaner rest
on the surface to be suctioned or, for example, be spaced thereform
by way of a bristle strip.
[0030] The bottom plate is also referred to as a nozzle sole. The
floor nozzle comprises a suction opening for producing a fluidic
connection with the motorized fan unit. This suction opening is in
fluidic connection with the at least one air flow channel. With the
at least one, in particular, one or more air flow channels, the
contact pressure of the floor nozzle is advantageously adjusted for
good suction power. The openings being provided laterally in the
base plate are provided transverse to the intended sliding
direction of the floor nozzle. One or more air flow channels can be
provided from one side of the base plate to the opposite side of
the base plate (in each case transverse to the sliding direction).
In such end-to-end air flow channels, one opening is provided for
each channel on either (opposite) side of the base plate.
[0031] The suction tube can have a diameter in a range from 25 mm
to 50 mm, in particular from 30 mm to 45 mm, and in particular from
35 mm to 45 mm, and/or a length in a range from 600 mm to 1200 mm.
The suction tube can be formed to be rigid, in particular such that
it can by a user not be deformed during the intended use. The
suction tube can be partially or completely made of plastic
material or metal.
[0032] The suction hose can have a diameter in a range from 25 mm
to 50 mm, in particular from 30 mm to 45 mm, and in particular from
35 mm to 45 mm, and/or a length in a range from 1000 mm to 2500 mm.
The suction hose can be configured to be flexible, in particular
such that it can be deformed by a user when used as intended. The
suction hose can be partially or completely made of plastic
material. It can in particular comprise a plastic wall and/or a
reinforcement made of metal (for example a spiral wire).
[0033] The suction tube and/or the suction hose can have a constant
or a variable diameter over their respective lengths. The suction
tube and/or the suction hose can in particular have a tapering
shape, where the diameter is preferably reduced towards the floor
nozzle. The above-mentioned diameters refer in particular to the
smallest diameter of the suction tube or of the suction hose,
respectively.
[0034] The dust collector arrangement can be configured and/or the
motorized fan unit can be arranged such that no contact between the
fan wheel of the motorized fan unit and a test probe according to
IEC/EN 60335 is possible through the floor nozzle. Reference is
there made to section 8 of the version DIN EN 60335-1: 2012-10. In
particular, test probe B is to be used.
[0035] This reduces the risk of damaging the motorized fan unit and
the risk of injury when touching the floor nozzle while the motor
is running.
[0036] The floor vacuum cleaner can be a bag vacuum cleaner, in
particular having a filter area of at least 800 cm.sup.2. A bag
vacuum cleaner is a vacuum cleaner in which the suctioned dust is
separated and collected in a vacuum cleaner filter bag. The floor
vacuum cleaner can in particular be a bag vacuum cleaner for
disposable bags.
[0037] The filter area of a vacuum cleaner filter bag designates
the entire area of the filter material which is located between or
within the edge seams (for example welding or adhesive seams). Any
side or surface folds that may be present also need to be
considered. The area of the bag filling opening or inlet opening
(including a seam surrounding this opening) is not part of the
filter area.
[0038] The vacuum cleaner filter bag can be a flat bag or have a
block bottom shape. A flat bag is formed by two side walls made of
filter material which are joined together (for example welded or
glued) along their peripheral edges. The bag filling opening or
inlet opening can be provided in one of the two side walls. The
side faces or walls can each have a rectangular basic shape. Each
side wall can comprise one or more layers of nonwoven and/or
nonwoven fabric.
[0039] The floor vacuum cleaner in the form of a bag vacuum cleaner
can comprise a vacuum cleaner filter bag, where the vacuum cleaner
filter bag is designed in the form of a flat bag and/or a
disposable bag.
[0040] The bag wall of the vacuum cleaner filter bag can comprise
one or more layers of a nonwoven and/or one or more layers of
nonwoven fabric. It can in particular comprise a laminate of one or
more layers of nonwoven and/or one or more layers of nonwoven
fabric. Such a laminate is described, for example, in WO
2007/068444.
[0041] The term nonwoven fabric is used within the meaning of
standard DIN EN ISO 9092:2010. In particular, film and paper
structures, in particular filter paper, are there not regarded as
being nonwoven fabric. "Nonwoven" is a structure made of fibers
and/or continuous filaments or short fiber yarns shaped into a
surface structure by some method (except interlacing of yarns such
as woven fabric, knitwear, lace, or tufted fabric) but not bonded
by some method. With a bonding process, a nonwoven turns into
nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven or nonwoven fabric can be dry laid,
wet laid or extruded.
[0042] The floor vacuum cleaner can comprise a blow-out filter, in
particular having a filter area of at least 800 cm.sup.2. The
blow-out filter can in particular be configured to be pleated or
folded. This makes it possible to obtain a large surface area at a
smaller base area. The blow-out filter can be provided in a holder,
as described, for example, in European patent application No.
14179375.2. Such blow-out filters allow the use of vacuum cleaner
filter bags with low separation efficiency, for example, of
single-layer vacuum cleaner filter bags. For example, a bag can be
used as a vacuum cleaner filter bag with low separation efficiency
in which the filter material of the bag wall consists of a spunbond
with a surface weight of 15 g/m.sup.2 to 100 g/m.sup.2. The vacuum
cleaner filter bag can therefore be formed in particular having a
single layer. For example, a bag can alternatively be used in which
the filter material of the bag wall consists of a laminate made of
a spun-bond, a meltblown and a further spunbond (SMS).
[0043] Alternatively, the floor vacuum cleaner can be a bagless
vacuum cleaner, in particular with a blow-out filter as described
above having a filter area of at least 800 cm.sup.2. A bagless
vacuum cleaner is a vacuum cleaner in which the suctioned dust is
separated and collected without a vacuum cleaner filter bag. In
this case, the dust collector arrangement can comprise an impact
separator or a centrifugal separator or a cyclone separator.
[0044] The above-described floor vacuum cleaners can comprise a
second motorized fan unit. The second motorized fan unit can be a
dirty air motor or a clean air motor (as described above).
[0045] In particular in the case of a dirty air motor, the second
motorized fan unit can be arranged, for example, between the
suction tube and the first motorized fan unit such that a suctioned
air stream flows through the second motorized fan unit into the
first motorized fan unit and then into the dust separator. The
second motorized fan unit can in particular be arranged fluidically
directly upstream of the first motorized fan unit.
[0046] In particular in the case of a clean air motor, the second
motorized fan unit can be arranged fluidically downstream of the
dust collector unit.
[0047] The first and second motorized fan units can have the same
or different electrical power input. The electrical input power of
each motorized fan unit can in particular be between 50 and 400 W.
The sum of the electrical input power of both motorized fan units
can in particular be at most 700 W.
[0048] It has shown that the use of a second assist motorized fan
unit positively influences the clogging behavior of a vacuum
cleaner filter bag and a high volumetric flow can be obtained. This
results in good dust collection by the floor nozzle.
[0049] In principle, the floor nozzle can be an active or a passive
floor nozzle. An active floor nozzle has a brush roller (sometimes
also referred to as a beating and/or rotation brush) in the suction
opening. The brush roller can be driven electro-motorically A
passive floor nozzle has no brush roller.
[0050] In the floor vacuum cleaners described, very good efficiency
and suction performance can on account of the overall design also
be obtained with a passive floor nozzle, i.e. without a brush
roller. When passive floor nozzles are used, the design and
therefore also the weight of the floor nozzle is simplified, which
simplifies handling.
[0051] Further features are described with reference to the
figures, where
[0052] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a floor vacuum
cleaner;
[0053] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a floor vacuum
cleaner;
[0054] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a floor vacuum
cleaner.
[0055] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a floor
vacuum cleaner 1. Floor vacuum cleaner 1 shown comprises a dust
collector arrangement 2 which is mounted on rollers 3 and can
therefore be moved in a rolling manner. Connected to dust collector
arrangement 2 is a suction hose 4 which in turn is connected to a
suction tube 5. Suction hose 4 comprises flexible material which is
in particular deformable during operation. The material used is,
for example, plastic material. The hose can be connected to dust
collector arrangement 2 detachable in a nondestructive manner or
detachable not in a nondestructive manner.
[0056] Suction tube 5 is formed to be rigid so that it can not be
deformed by a user during the intended use. The material of suction
tube 5 can be plastic material or metal. The connection between the
suction tube and the suction hose can formed to be detachable in a
nondestructive manner or detachable not in a nondestructive manner.
A handle 6 is also attached to suction tube 5.
[0057] Floor vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a floor nozzle 7
connected to suction tube 5.
[0058] Dust collector arrangement 2 comprises a housing 8,
presently being shown schematically in a cross-sectional view, on
which a motorized fan unit 9 is arranged. A tube member 10 leads
from motorized fan unit 9 into the interior of housing 8. Arranged
inside housing 8 is a vacuum cleaner filter bag 11 which forms the
dust separator. The vacuum cleaner filter bag can be removably
attached in the interior of the housing in a conventional manner,
for example, by way of a holding plate.
[0059] In the arrangement shown, an continuous fluidic connection
to dust separator 11 is therefore established by floor nozzle 7,
suction tube 5, suction hose 4, motorized fan unit 9 and tube
member 10. Motorized fan unit 9 is there arranged between suction
hose 4 and dust separator 11 so that dirty air suctioned through
the floor nozzle flows through motorized fan unit 9 (in particular
via tube member 10) into vacuum cleaner filter bag 11.
[0060] Motorized fan unit 9 is therefore a dirty air motor. This is
in particular a motorized fan unit comprising a radial fan. The
motorized fan unit has a fan wheel the axis of which is during
intended use tilted relative to the surface to be suctioned and
relative to the intended sliding direction of the floor nozzle, and
is thereby also arranged tilted with respect to the perpendicular
direction. The angle between the perpendicular direction and the
fan wheel axis is less than 45.degree., so that the fan wheel axis
is also not arranged parallel to the surface to be suctioned and to
the intended sliding direction.
[0061] The fan diameter can be 60 mm to 160 mm. A motorized fan
unit, for example, from the company AMETEK, Inc. can be used, which
is also used in Soniclean Upright vacuum cleaners (e.g. SONICLEAN
VT PLUS).
[0062] The motorized fan unit of the SONICLEAN VT PLUS was
characterized according to DIN EN 60312-1: 2014-01 as explained
above. The motorized fan unit was measured without the vacuum
cleaner housing. For possibly necessary adapters for connection to
the measuring chamber, the descriptions in section 7.3.7.1 apply.
The table shows that high volumetric flows are obtained at low
rotational speeds and low input power.
TABLE-US-00001 AMETEK "dirty air" (fan wheel diameter 82 mm) with
aperture 8 (40 mm) negative rotational pressure volumetric input
power voltage speed box flow [W] [V] [RPM] [kPa] [l/s] 200 77
15,700 0.98 30.2 250 87 17,200 1.17 32.9 300 95 18,400 1.34 35.2
350 103 19,500 1.52 37.5 400 111 20,600 1.68 39.4 450 117 21,400
1.82 41.0
[0063] Air is during operation sucked in by motorized fan unit 9.
The air stream there enters vacuum cleaner 1 through an opening of
floor nozzle 7 and flows through suction tube 5 and suction hose 4
into motorized fan unit 9. Due to the arrangement of motorized fan
unit 9--in the air stream direction--upstream of dust separator 11
(in the form of a vacuum cleaner filter bag), there is an
overpressure in housing 8 as well as in dust separator 11.
[0064] In conventional floor vacuum cleaners, the motorized fan
unit is installed in the dust collector arrangement in the air
stream direction downstream of the dust separator, for example, the
vacuum cleaner filter bag, which results in particular in that the
housing of the dust collector arrangement is subjected to a
negative pressure. In order to avoid deformation of the housing due
to the negative pressure, the latter must typically be reinforced,
for example, using respective reinforcement ribs. In the
configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, this is not required or only
to a small degree because of the overpressure in housing 8.
[0065] The example shown in FIG. 1 is a bag vacuum cleaner. This
means that, arranged in dust collector arrangement 2 is a vacuum
cleaner filter bag 11 in which the suctioned dirt and dust is
separated. This vacuum cleaner filter bag can be, in particular, a
flat bag, the bag walls of which comprise one or more layers of
nonwoven and/or nonwoven fabric. The vacuum cleaner filter bag is
embodied as a disposable bag.
[0066] When using in particular single-layer vacuum cleaner filter
bags in which the bag wall is composed, for example, of exactly one
nonwoven fabric layer in the form of a spunbond, the use of a
blow-out filter is advantageous. The dust filter can be used to
filter fine dust which has not been separated in the vacuum cleaner
filter bag. Such a blow-out filter can have an area of at least 800
cm.sup.2. It can in particular be formed to be pleated or folded in
order to have a large surface area at a smaller base area (than the
surface area).
[0067] By virtue of the arrangement of the motorized fan unit 9 on
and on top of housing 8, a compact structure of dust collector
arrangement 2 can be obtained. In the example shown, the motorized
fan unit is arranged above dust separator 11.
[0068] Suction hose 4 typically has a diameter in a range of 25 mm
to 50 mm and a length in a range of 1000 mm to 2500 mm. Suction
tube 5 typically has a diameter in a range of 25 mm to 50 mm and a
length in a range of 600 mm to 1200 mm.
[0069] Suction tube 5 is formed to be rigid and suction hose 4 is
formed to be flexible.
[0070] FIG. 2 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a
floor vacuum cleaner 1 in which the same elements are provided with
the same reference symbols as in FIG. 1. In the example shown in
FIG. 2, motorized fan unit 9 is likewise arranged directly on and
on top of housing 8.
[0071] In this case, the rotational axis of the fan wheel of
motorized fan unit 9 is during the intended use vertical, i.e.,
perpendicular (in particular perpendicular to the surface to be
suctioned). The fan wheel therefore in this example rotates in a
plane parallel to the surface to be suctioned.
[0072] The suctioned air enters from suction hose 4 into motorized
fan unit 9, from where it flows into tube member 10 and thereafter
into vacuum cleaner filter bag 11. Accordingly, an overpressure is
present in tube member 10 and in housing 8.
[0073] The example shown in FIG. 2 is likewise a bag vacuum
cleaner. As an alternative thereto, floor vacuum cleaner 1, as
schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, can also be a vacuum cleaner
in which the dust collector arrangement 2 comprises a centrifugal
separator or a cyclone separator, respectively, in which the
suctioned dirt and dust particles are separated by centrifugal
force. Alternatively, the bagless floor vacuum cleaner can also be
designed as an impact separator.
[0074] The centrifugal or cyclone separator shown comprises a
housing 8, on and on top of which motorized fan unit 9 is
arranged.
[0075] In particular in the case of bagless vacuum cleaners, the
dust collector arrangement comprises a blow-out filter with which
fine dust is filtered that has not been separated in the
centrifugal separator. This blow-out filter can have an area of at
least 800 cm.sup.2. It can in particular be formed to be pleated or
folded in order to have a large surface area at a smaller base
area. The blow-out filter can there be provided in a holder, as
described in European patent application No. 14179375.2.
[0076] In addition to the one motorized fan unit employed in the
examples shown, the floor vacuum cleaner can also comprise a
second, assist motorized fan unit. It has been found that the use
of two motorized fan units during operation of the floor vacuum
cleaner can result in a lower suction power loss as compared to the
use of a single motorized fan unit, even if the sum of the electric
input power of the two motorized fan units is equal to the electric
input power of the one motorized fan unit.
[0077] The second motorized fan unit can be designed as a dirty air
motor and can be arranged fluidically (directly) upstream of the
first motorized fan unit and therefore upstream of the dust
collector unit so that the dirty air flows through the second
motorized fan unit. The two motorized fan units can have identical
or different electrical power inputs.
[0078] Alternatively, the second motorized fan unit can be designed
as a clean air motor and can be arranged fluidically downstream of
the dust collector unit. For example, a motorized fan unit from the
company Domel with the model name 467.3.601-4 (to be acquired from
Domel, doo Otoki 21, 4228 {circumflex over (Z)}elezniki, Slovenija)
can be used. In either embodiments, it is not necessary that a
brush roller (for example a beating brush and/or a rotating brush)
be provided on or in floor nozzle 7.
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